Consumer Reports named the Ford Motor Company BlueCruise the best Active Driving Assistance System available. Take a hands-free drive with Vern Eide Ford to find out how BlueCruise is going to change South Dakota highways in the near future.
10 Ford test vehicles traversed the U.S. and Canada, tackling diverse driving conditions to refine BlueCruise, Ford’s hands-free driving technology. Test drivers focused on evaluating the system’s response to varied road signs, lane markings, and weather conditions, essential for the development of Ford’s BlueCruise.
Alexandra Taylor, a BlueCruise engineer, noted the reduced mental fatigue while driving long distances with the technology, particularly over a 3,000-mile trek. Behind the scenes, Ford’s engineering team, led by Justin Teems, monitored the fleet’s data closely, aiming to push BlueCruise to its limits. The project tackled the complexities of creating a reliable hands-free driving system, considering varying road conditions, weather, and construction.
BlueCruise enhances Ford’s Co-Pilot360 Technology with advanced camera and radar sensing. It enables hands-free driving on over 100,000 miles of prequalified North American highways, designated as Hands-Free Blue Zones. The system uses a driver-facing camera to ensure attention remains on the road, providing a truly hands-free experience in specific highway conditions.
Unlike its competitors, BlueCruise communicates with drivers using blue lighting and textual cues on the digital instrument cluster, accommodating those with color blindness. It represents a significant advancement in driver-assist technologies, promoting safety and convenience without requiring constant physical contact with the steering wheel, setting Ford apart in the automotive industry.